Is Dean right for the DNC Chair?

[TOOLZ]

Not to inflame passions, I'm curious what the emerging sentiment is about Dean assuming leadership of the Democratic party, which is becoming an increasing possibility.

It's not about his politics, I'm with him and even lefter. But is there something to be said about having someone with a grasp on the middle? Dean mobilized millions of people, and even after he dropped out, continued to organize a grassroots empire. He's been doing the DNC job anyway. He brought a lot of disenfranchised people back in to caring about Democrats. That's what the DNC needs.

But might he be better used on the campaign, which he couldn't do as chair? Or will he never live down The Scream? And he does tend to "shoot from the lip" as they described on NPR today.

Dean didn't lose me with the scream. I told my girlfriend while he was doing it, "if that's not enough to scare terrorists, then I don't know what." He lost me the following Friday when he said Alan Greenspan should step down for not fighting Bush on the tax cuts. Greenspan, not Clinton, guided us through that 90's boom.

Dean could be the best, the worst, or both for the DNC. Airing your thoughts here could be read by people who can make that decision.

Also, for some funny video Bush cut-ups, check my site, . I appreciate your thoughts.

[jfern]

1. Dean is a moderate

Just because the so called liberal media convinced every yahoo in America that he's a crazy leftist doesn't mean that he's not a moderate.

[dolstein]

14. He didn't run as a moderate

He made a very calculated appeal to primary voters who thought that the party had moved too far to the right under Bill Clinton. That was his choice -- and now he's stuck with it.

If he were a moderate, than he wouldn't have questioned whether fellow moderates like Joe Lieberman represented the "Democratic" wing of the Democratic Party.

Sorry, but you can't have it both ways. You can't trash moderate Democrats on the one hand and them claim the moderate label for yourself.

[jfern]

16. Huh?

I don't trash Democrats just because they're moderate.
Dean is a moderate.
I don't trash him.
I do trash moderates without a spine.
And no, I'm not a moderate.

[Norquist Nemesis]

22. Lieberman is a moderate?

I'm missing something just about every time I see/hear him then. :crazy:

[WI_DEM]

25. I disagree

He was labeled a liberal because of his war stance. But he spoke out frequently about balancing the budget and running a 50-state campaign and trying to appeal to people who are not necessrily liberals.

[Zhade]

33. Lieberman isn't a moderate, though, so it's not having it both ways.

NT!

[IronLionZion]

2. yes

does it really matter what his politics are? HELL NO!!!

The DNC chairman needs to organize, strategize, and light a fire under the Democrats' asses. That's what Dean is doing whether he gets the job or not. His plans for a "50 state party" and "we need to show up and listen" are exactly what this party needs.

He has the courage to tell Ken Mehlman to go shove it.

[Zhade]

34. I disagree. His politics are important.

Whoever is elected to the position will help determine the public image of the party.

Pick a guy like Scaife-funded Roemer, and it sends the message that a woman's right to self-sovereignty is negotiable.

Pick a war-monger like Rosenberg (and let's be clear: to advocate and support the war at this point is to be a war-monger) and it sends the also-disastrous message that the war was the right thing to do, never mind its illegality and immorality.

Above all, the reason Dean's politics are important is his belief in, and practice of, getting We the People involved in politics at all levels. He actively encourages regular Joes and Janes to lead, while their elected officials are busy cranking out emails soliciting even more donations they won't put to good use.

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. At this point it is the healthiest thing that could happen to the Party

The old establishment and new activists will have a common stake in making the Democratic Party work. We can't regain power if we are engaged in our own Civil War. Some priorities will shift, in my opinion in positive directions. But the most important thing is with everyone seated at the DNC table, no one will feel like they need to keep fighting to get there. We can move on to actually renewing the Party.

Plus I think Dean has the right package of skills to do a great job, and that is a critical job that can't safely wait any longer to be undertaken.

[w13rd0]

4. Greenspan didn't guide us thru bupkiss...

...his murmurings were always interpreted as whatever whoever wanted to hear. Seldom, if ever, does the man say anything that isn't the epitome of have and eat cake-ism. And even were I willing to extend him credit for the 90s economy, I'd still fault him for his performance under Bush.

[John_H]

10. I wouldn't even give him credit for the 90's economy n/t

[Old and In the Way]

5. I've never seen more interest in who's running for DNC chair.

10 years ago, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone asking the question. But Democrats are very, very interested who is in charge of our organizing, fudraising, and strategy moving forward. Polls I've seen are overwhelmingly supporting Dean...85%-90%. That ought to tell you something.

If Dean is denied, there may not be much of a Party left to lead.

[moggie12]

6. I beg to differ re: Dean's criticism of Greenspan

Dean was dead-on right about calling on Greenspan to resign, in my opinion.

Although Greenspan deserves credit for his management of the economy in the early/mid '90's, he failed to act forcefully to prevent the enoromus investment and speculative bubble that led to the crash in '00-01. He did warn of "irrational exuberance", but then backed off in the face of pressure, failing to tighten margin trading requirements that would have helped prevent the ridiculous run-up in '98 and '99.

In my book, his backing of Bush's tax cuts was criminal. Much of the money the richest 20% of Americans got was thrown into the market, reinflating the bubble. What goes on in the stock market these days is not "investing" but "trading": Hedge funds are now an almost trillion dollar industry, a highly-leveraged economic house of cards that could some day crash down on all our heads.

Go, Howard, rein in those speculators!!

[Pepperbelly]

7. Fine by me. nt

[xultar]

8. Yes, and there's no one with a flame thrower to my head either...

just kidding.

YEs. More over he is right for the chair even if it will stop the infighting around here. I want him to get the job, do his thing and those who support him will need to continue to support him regardless of what he does. Why? Because I believe if oyu vote for someone to hold a post for a number of years. You need to support them that entire time. Especially people who support Dean with such passion.

So Yes, Dean is right for the DNC chair.

[John_H]

9. On balance the pros outweigh the cons

Pros: A dedicated, dyed in the wool democrat. Loyal without question to the party and the ideals it represents. Moderate enough to be attractive to all but the extreme right wing of the party.Talks progressive enough to Positioned himself perfectly in the insider/outsider issue. The insiders know he's an insider, because he's been one of them, working hand in hand with them for years--raising money, picking candidates, mediating in intra-party disputes, and chairing numerous intra-party organizations and committees. Even more usefully, he and Joe trippi successfully convinced "outsiders" that he is one of them. He has a long and impressive record as an enthusiastic and efficient money raiser, both through traditional corporate and wealthy-donor avenues, and also through cutting edge techniques that reach out to individual donors. He is an articulate spokesman, good on TV and live.

Cons: Sometimes he's a little too articulate, coming off to many as simultaneously glib and impertinently blunt. His primary-bid rhetoric has opened him up to unfair "radical" charges by the media and the GOP. The possibility of these charges sticking worries democrats who have to get elected in red states and also to those who understand the power math doesn't work unless dems get elected in red states.


Opportunities: Provided he can continue to walk the tightrope of keeping an ideologically diverse party together and raising enough money while fighting back hard against the GOP and also maneuver as an inside player without alienating those who expect him to be a bombthrower he could be the most popular chair in years. He has also shown he is open to new uses of technology and organizing. He has also promised to end the consultant culture of the DNC, which he won't be able to do but at least he recognizes it's a problem.


Challenges: Has made two serious strategic mistakes which could erode the unity essential to beat the GOP. 1)maneuvering with the clintons a little too aggressively. The problem for him is that, if the spats turn into open warfare, many rank and file dems and almost all special interest groups would side with the sitting senator from new york and a popular, strategically brilliant, ex-president over a functionary like the DNC chair, no matter who it is. 2) He has not trumpeted his excellent moderate, pragmatic record enough. I believe that doing so would assuage the fears of more mainstream donors, interest groups, and voters than it would diminish the support of those on the outer left fringes of the party who, as Russ Feingold, Patrick Leahy, and Barak Obama have found out, are impossible to keep in your corner unless you are a self-imposted hostage to their narrow minded ideology.

[lojasmo]

18. Excellent analysis. Re. challenges point one:

If dean is elected chair, the "war" with the Clintons and other moderates within the party will end.

[John_H]

11. Hmmmm...I wonder why some of our loudest Dean "supporters"

are passing on the opportunity to post in a thread that promotes howard dean without ALSO attacking other Dems? Imagine.....

[fishwax]

13. Self Delete

(sorry, I reread your post and I think I'd missed the point the first time :dunce:)

[KissMeKate]

15. gee,

it must be that we dean supporters only live to attack other democrats.

[Larkspur]

19. Some of us were busy getting our Dem Town Committees to endorse Howard

Dean for DNC Chair. I've been assigned the task of writing the letter to our CT DNC delegation urging them to support Howard for DNC Chair.

Also because this thread was started when I was driving home last night from work and had to stop and do errands on the way home, I didn't see it until now.

If you want my view, check out my personal blog, "A Tiny Ripple of Hope" http://tinyrippleofhope.blogspot.com/ for my comment on Dean being DNC chair.

And here is what I sent my local paper, but they didn't print it as of yet:
As a Democrat, who has grown frustrated at the Democratic Party leaders for not only their competence at losing elections, but also for alienating supporters from the Party when they betray Democratic and Constitutional principles in pursuit of those ever elusive “swing” voters and cave-in under Republican bullying, I would like say, “Please elect Howard Dean as DNC Chair!”

The Democratic Party needs Howard Dean’s courage, democratic leadership style, innovativeness, and energy at promoting core Democratic principles, as well as offering a holistic vision to restoring our American community. In his speech yesterday, Dean echoed a major theme from his superb June 23, 2003 Presidential announcement speech about restoring our sense of an American community.

… we have to rebuild the American community. We will never succeed by treating our nation as a collection of separate regions or separate groups. There are no red states or blues states, only American states. And we must talk to the people in all of these states as members of one community.

Unlike George Bush’s vision of an “ownership society,” which are code words for a “Dictatorship of Robber Barons”, Howard Dean, in the tradition of noble American leaders of the past, emphasized that America is a commonwealth of citizens, not a coalition of individuals, who work together towards making this country and world better for everyone, especially the unfortunate.

A part of me would prefer Howard Dean to run for President again in 2008, but the former governor is correct when he says that unless the Democratic Party is reformed from the grassroots up, the Party of Jefferson, Jackson, and Roosevelt will dwindle into permanent minority status and that would be a great disservice to our democracy.

[latteromden]

12. You know, most people don't know who the D/RNC chairman IS.

The "average voter" won't decide who to vote for based on the chair of the party. This is good for us - the party chair is actually very important, in terms of fundraising and being a spokesperson and such, but it can't really hurt us with voters.

That said, I really think that Dean is the best choice. I hope, and think, he'll get the job.

[bklyncowgirl]

17. Dean's the best of those running

If the Democrats had some brilliant strategist type who could work all the ends of the party, speak clearly and strongly for Democratic values in the face of opposition and plot a course for long term victory that person should be DNC chair. Sadly, that person does not exist. The person who comes closest would be Bill Clinton and he clearly doesn't want the job.

The Democratic party needs an infusion of energy and ideas. Dean represents both.

[Catfight]

20. NO! WE need a minority to head the direction...not another

elite white male.

[lojasmo]

30. How about Jesse Jackson? EOM

[RafterMan]

21. I'm not a Democrat or a Dean fan

but I think he'd be good for the job. From the outside, the party looks malaised and I think Dean has what it takes to stir up the pot.

I disagree with you about Greenspan's value -- he propped up the market bubble by cutting rates every time the market fell and he issued oddball warnings about paying down the debt too soon. I'm not familiar with Dean's criticism of him, but he's overrated in my book.

[marcologico]

23. In a word, no. Dean is dishonest and has obvious designs on the fund-

raising and publicity potential of the DNC. An obvious ploy of benefit to one and only one Democrat, an unelectable one at that.

[RogueTrooper]

26. Would you care to back up those bold assertions?

In what way is Dean dishonest?

[Tom Rinaldo]

28. I go on record disagreeing strongly with this post

But I won't say any more because I am a Clark supporter and half the time when I say something positive about Dean it just ends up in something negative being said about Clark or his supporters. Dean supporters will just have to take the lead in dealing with this type of slam themselves. But I agree it is one.

[lojasmo]

29. That's a load of crap....Of course I'm not surprised. N/T

[Debi]

32. John Kerry?

He's the one who didn't get elected...:silly:

[WI_DEM]

24. It's too early to say, but I believe yes he is what we need right now

whether he will be successful is anybody's guess. But I truly think the party needs a spokesman with real passion who can excite our base as well as reach out to others--Dean has proven he can do this. I'm willing to give him that chance.

[Depth03]

27. Howard Dean Remix

I guess this is as good a place as any to post this.

This remix was very popular during the primaries and many will be familiar with it.
I contacted it's creator and brought it into my facility for an audio clean-up.

The new version is available here: www.depthaudio.com/Dean.htm

[Debi]

31. Yes...Yes..YES!!!

I'm sick of hearing how Dean is perceived...oh. please keep perpetuating the myth.

He can't get the different factions of the party to work together? So, when we were working together to try to get him the nomination we weren't working together?

Dean is the future of the Dem party.

That's what the Clinton's fear the most!!!

[tsuki]

35. Anyone who could re-teach the Democrats about grassroots is good

for the party. We only see our Democratic Representative at election time.

Back in the old days, Uncle Bob (Bob Sikes, who was everybody's uncle) threw family reunions in Crestview where 1/2 the county was invited. He had ward bosses. I lived across the street from his boss, the one that is credited with hanging him with the "He-Coon of NW FL" tag. He was accessible. Answer all his letters. Water those grass roots.

If he can teach those things to the Democrats, he's my man.